Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 73 / Tuesday, April 17, 2007 / Notices 19213 

alternatives. Program objectives for all 

of the alternatives are based on the 

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge 

Renewable Natural Resources 

Management Plan (Management Plan) 

and associated NEPA document 

published in 1980, and include: (1) 

Maintaining a manageable feral horse 

and burro population (75 to 125 horses, 

30 to 60 burros) in balance with other 

wildlife species for the enjoyment of 

Refuge visitors; (2) stopping range 

deterioration and improving wildlife 

habitat and watershed conditions, and 

reducing impacts on existing water 

resources; (3) ensuring that the Refuge 

range provides ample forage for all 

wildlife populations endemic to the 

area; and (4) reducing the spread of feral 

horses and burros into key wildlife 

areas. Alternative B, the Status Quo 

Alternative, is the Service’s preferred 

alternative. The alternatives are briefly 

discussed below. 

Alternative A, No Agency Action on 

Horse and Burro Management. Under 

Alternative A, the Refuge would 

discontinue the ongoing program of 

horse and burro population 

management. Program objectives from 

the 1980 Management Plan would not 

be met. Program elements such as 

gathering, providing interim care for 

and adoptions of the Refuge’s horses 

and burros would no longer be 

conducted. Without any control, horse 

and burro populations on the Refuge 

could double approximately every four 

years, severely impacting Refuge lands, 

water sources, wildlife habitats and 

associated fish, wildlife and plant 

populations, and posing a safety risk 

along major public roads. 

Implementation of this alternative 

would likely prevent the Refuge from 

being managed to achieve the purposes 

for which it was established. The 

environmental effects of this alternative 

contrast with those of the three actionbased alternatives; B, C, and D. 

Alternative B, Status Quo. Under 

Alternative B, the Refuge’s current horse 

and burro management program would 

continue until a CCP has been 

completed for the Refuge. Implementing 

this alternative would include minor 

improvements to the program through 

an adaptive management process. This 

alternative would place horses and 

burros up for adoption through several 

private adoption agents. Agents are 

screened and certified based on 

adequate facilities, appropriate 

knowledge on horse care and handling, 

successful record of prior horse 

adoptions, and interviews with 

character witnesses and a veterinarian. 

The adoption agents would screen 

potential homes for the horses and 

burros, care for them in the intervening 

time, and coordinate transportation. The 

horses and burros would be shipped to 

the agents from the Refuge and then 

transported to their adopted homes. 

Refuge staff would use three methods to 

gather horses and burros: (1) Corrals set 

with bait (such as hay) to draw in 

burros; (2) horseback riders to herd 

horses into corrals; and (3) helicopters 

to herd horses into corrals. Management 

of horses and burros consumes staff 

time and funding, detracting from the 

Refuge’s ability to conduct other 

programs necessary to achieve Refuge 

purposes as well as Refuge management 

objectives associated with native 

wildlife species and wildlife dependant 

public use. However, implementation of 

Alternative B would best accomplish 

current management objectives for horse 

and burro management and would be 

the most cost effective program. 

Alternative C, Adoption of Horses and 

Burros through Individuals. Under 

Alternative C, Refuge staff would: 

screen individuals and organizations for 

suitability for potential adoption of 

gathered horses and burros; care for 

them until they are picked up by the 

adopter; coordinate brand inspections; 

secure health certificates; and facilitate 

transportation. Other aspects of the 

program would be the same as under 

Alternative B. Refuge staff would use 

three methods to gather horses and 

burros: (1) Corrals set with bait to draw 

in burros; (2) horseback riders to herd 

horses into corrals; and (3) helicopters 

to herd horses into corrals. 

Implementing this Alternative would 

require allocation of more staff time and 

resources which would detract from 

other Refuge programs, such as facility 

maintenance, working and meeting with 

the public, wildlife monitoring and 

studies, range and fire management, and 

law enforcement. 

Alternative D, Conduct Horse and 

Burro Gathering by Bait and Horseback 

Techniques Only. Under Alternative D, 

using wranglers on horseback only to 

gather horses and burros is proposed, 

rather than using both helicopters and 

horseback. In addition, burros would be 

drawn into corrals with bait. An 

adoption agent would screen and select 

the adopters to ensure good homes, and 

care for the horses and burros in the 

intervening time. This Alternative, 

using bait and horseback gathering only, 

would be less efficient and less effective 

than using both helicopters and 

horseback riders. This approach would 

delay completion of the gather and 

achievement of other Refuge 

conservation objectives. Selection of 

this alternative would allow impacts 

from horse and burro populations to 

continue for longer periods, and reduce 

funds available for other Refuge 

management and operations. 

Public Comments 

Public comments are requested on the 

draft Environmental Assessment for the 

Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge Horse 

and Burro Management Program and its 

evaluation of the environmental effects 

of the four alternatives. Comments on 

the draft EA will be analyzed and 

addressed in final documents. All 

comments received from individuals 

become part of the official public record 

available for public review. Requests for 

copies of comments will be handled in 

accordance with the Administrative 

Procedure Act, Freedom of Information 

Act, NEPA regulations, and Service and 

Department of the Interior policies and 

procedures. 

Dated: April 11, 2007. 

Don Weathers, 

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, 

Oregon. 

[FR Doc. E7–7243 Filed 4–16–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[OR 038–1220–AL–24–1A; HAG07–0036] 

Call for Nominations for National 

Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive 

Center Advisory Board 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Solicitation of applications. 

SUMMARY: This notice is to request 

nominations for the National Historic 

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center 

Advisory Board. The seven member 

terms on the Board expired December 

29, 2006. The Board provides advice 

and recommendations to the Bureau of 

Land Management (BLM) on resource 

management issues associated with the 

Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. 

DATES: Submit completed nomination 

forms and nomination letters to the 

address listed below no later than May 

17, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Applications are available 

from, and candidates should send 

nominations to: Pam Robbins, OR–912, 

Bureau of Land Management, 

(pam_robbins@blm.gov), P.O. Box 2965, 

Portland, Oregon 97208, (503) 808–

6306. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam 

Robbins, (503) 808–6306. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Individuals and organizations may 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
19214 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 73 / Tuesday, April 17, 2007 / Notices 

nominate themselves or one or more 

other persons to serve on the 

Interpretive Center Advisory Board. 

Council members serve two year terms. 

Meetings are usually held quarterly, or 

as needed to accomplish Board 

business. Nomination forms can be 

obtained from the BLM, (see address 

above). Nominations must include a 

completed nomination form, letter(s) of 

reference from the interests or 

organizations the nominee intends to 

represent, and other material showing 

the nominee’s qualifications. The letter 

of nomination and the nomination form 

should identify the category the 

nominee would like to represent. 

Membership on the Board will be 

balanced among the following interest 

categories: 

(1) Federal, county and local 

governments; 

(2) The local business community; 

(3) Trail advocacy groups; and 

(4) The public-at-large. 

The National Historic Oregon Trail 

Interpretive Center Advisory Board 

advises the BLM on the management of 

the Center. Each member will be a 

person who, as a result of training and 

experience, has knowledge or special 

expertise that qualifies them to provide 

advice from among the categories of 

interest listed above. Members serve 

without monetary compensation, but 

will be reimbursed for travel and per 

diem expenses at current rates for 

government employees. 

Kathy Eaton, 

Associate State Director, Oregon/Washington 

BLM. 

[FR Doc. E7–7264 Filed 4–16–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–PK–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Minerals Management Service 

Coastal Impact Assistance Program 

Allocations, Fiscal Years 2007–2008 

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability of 

recipient allocation amounts for fiscal 

years 2007 and 2008. 

SUMMARY: The Minerals Management 

Service (MMS) is issuing this notice to 

advise the public of the availability of 

the individual allocation amounts 

available to each of the 73 eligible 

recipients of the Coastal Impact 

Assistance Program (CIAP). The 

amounts are an important piece of 

information to be used by the States and 

Coastal Political Subdivisions in the 

completion of CIAP grant applications. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. 

Colleen Benner, Minerals Management 

Service, 381 Elden Street, Mail Stop 

4040, Herndon, Virginia 20170. You 

may also contact Ms. Benner by 

telephone at (703) 787–1710. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Act) has 

created CIAP by amending Section 31 of 

the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act 

(43 U.S.C. 1356(a)). Under the 

provisions of the Act, the authority and 

responsibility for the management of 

CIAP is vested in the Secretary of the 

Interior (Secretary). The Secretary has 

delegated this authority and 

responsibility to MMS. In the February 

16, 2007, continuing resolution, 

Congress approved a 3 percent 

appropriation of the CIAP funds to be 

used by MMS to administer the 

program. Under Section 384 of the Act, 

MMS shall disburse $250 million for 

each fiscal year 2007 through 2010 to 

eligible producing States (State) and 

coastal political subdivisions (CPS). The 

funds allocated to each State are based 

on the proportion of qualified Outer 

Continental Shelf (OCS) revenues 

offshore the individual State to total 

qualified OCS revenues from all States. 

In order to receive CIAP funds, States 

are required to submit a coastal impact 

assistance plan (Plan) that MMS must 

approve prior to disbursing any funds. 

All funds shall be disbursed through a 

grant process. The guidance has been 

developed by MMS to provide the 

information necessary for States to 

develop a Plan and submit it to MMS. 

The allotment amounts and guidelines 

may be found on the MMS Web site at 

http://www.mms.gov/offshore/ 

CIAPmain.htm. 

Dated: March 28, 2007. 

R. M. ‘‘Johnnie’’ Burton, 

Director, Minerals Management Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–7221 Filed 4–16–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Minerals Management Service 

Notice on Outer Continental Shelf Oil 

and Gas Lease Sales 

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: List of restricted joint bidders. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority 

vested in the Director of the Minerals 

Management Service by the joint 

bidding provisions of 30 CFR 256.41, 

each entity within one of the following 

groups shall be restricted from bidding 

with any entity in any other of the 

following groups at Outer Continental 

Shelf oil and gas lease sales to be held 

during the bidding period May 1, 2007 

through October 31, 2007. The List of 

Restricted Joint Bidders published in 

the Federal Register December 5, 2006 

covered the period November 1, 2006 

through April 30, 2007. 

Group I 

Exxon Mobil Corporation 

ExxonMobil Exploration Company 

Group II 

Shell Oil Company 

Shell Offshore Inc. 

SWEPI LP 

Shell Frontier Oil & Gas Inc. 

Shell Consolidated Energy Resources 

Inc. 

Shell Land & Energy Company 

Shell Onshore Ventures Inc. 

Shell Offshore Properties and Capital II, 

Inc. 

Shell Rocky Mountain Production LLC 

Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc. 

Group III 

BP America Production Company 

BP Exploration & Production Inc. 

BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. 

Group IV 

TOTAL E&P USA, Inc. 

Group V 

Chevron Corporation 

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. 

Chevron Midcontinent, L.P. 

Unocal Corporation 

Union Oil Company of California 

Pure Partners, L.P. 

Group VI 

ConocoPhillips Company 

ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc 

ConocoPhillips Petroleum Company 

Phillips Pt. Arguello Production 

Company 

Burlington Resources Oil & Gas 

Company LP 

Burlington Resources Offshore Inc. 

The Louisiana Land and Exploration 

Company 

Inexeco Oil Company 

Group VII 

Eni Petroleum Co. Inc. 

Eni Petroleum U.S. LLC 

Eni Oil U.S. LLC 

Eni Marketing Inc. 

Eni BB Petroleum Inc. 

Eni U.S. Operating Co. Inc. 

Eni BB Pipeline LLC 

Group VIII 

Petrobras America Inc. 


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